Hot Springs Official Resigns After Insensitive Remark to Black Resident

Hot Springs Official Resigns After Insensitive Remark to Black Resident

David Frasher

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — The city manager of Hot Springs has resigned after shouting a racially insensitive remark at a black school district administrator in the gated community where they both live.

Mayor Pat McCabe said the Hot Springs Board of Directors requested the resignation of David Frasher, who is white, on Tuesday. The board discussed disciplining Frasher for the comment he made last week to Lloyd Jackson, deputy superintendent for the Hot Springs School District.

Frasher was walking with his child in the Red Oak Ridge subdivision June 7 when several unknown vehicles sped out of the nearby community pool entrance, according to a statement from the city manager’s office. Frasher shouted “You don’t live here” at Jackson and his wife as they drove by, the statement said.

Frasher said he’s apologized to Jackson, who said the apology was “disingenuous” and came with excuses for his behavior.

“I shared with him that just like past experiences caused him to respond in a particular way, our past experiences cause us to question his motive and reasoning for being ugly to us as neighbors,” Jackson said.

Frasher told the board Tuesday he didn’t want the incident to interfere with the progress Hot Springs has made since he took over as city manager in 2016.

Frasher was hired to the position months after he was fired as city manager of Oregon City, Oregon. A letter from the city attributed Frasher’s termination to a strained relationship with the city commission after an investigation into racially insensitive comments he made about black people to two police officers.

A memo detailing the investigation said Frasher recounted to the Oregon City officers a comment he allegedly heard while in Romania that there were no black people in the country because everyone had to work.

Hot Springs considered the memo when hiring Frasher, said Larry Williams, city director.

“His answers obviously satisfied us,” Williams said. “I don’t believe then or now that David Frasher is a racist. I know he deeply regrets the events of the last few days.”

Frasher is entitled to one year’s salary and benefits, according to his severance terms. The exact amount of his severance payout won’t be known until next week.